Peristaltic therapeutic apparatus



March 11, 1958 E. M. LEONARD 2,826,197

PERISTALTIC THERAPEUTIC APPARATUS Filed Nov. 17 1955 INVENTOR EDITH M. LEONARD United States Patent'O {The present invention-relates to peristaltic therapeutic apparatus, and in particular to an applicator for such apparatus.

,Peristalsisis :the name given to the peculiar worm-like rwavemotion of theintestines produced by the successive contraction of the muscular fibers of the intestinal walls forcing the contents onward. If the normal peristaltic action .of theintestines is retarded for one reason or another, the fecal materialin the intestines is not moved onward. but accumulates with resulting further interference with normal peristalsis.

E Withthe above condition, the longitudinal and circular fibers, which make up the .coats of the large intestines, are arranged in such a way that a pouching or loculation may :be produced at regular intervals, and this is liable .to .causea deposit of hardened scybalous fecal masses to take place. In many cases these resist the action of laxatives or injections given in the ordinary manner and A constitutional disturbance or auto-intoxication other fecal matter, and peristalsis is further retarded by these obstructions.

The ordinary enema, though providing a cleansing action, does not in itself stimulate the ordinary peristaltic action and accordingly is usually only suitable for cases of simple constipation. Moreover, the enema method sometimes causes great discomfort to the patient.

On the other hand, the method according to the invention, hereinafter called the peristaltic method, consists of inserting an applicator into the patients rectum, applying Warm water or other cleansing fluid to the applicator so that the water flows into the patients rectum as a gentle spray directed principally radially against the walls thereof, and allowing the water to flow out again without interrupting the inward flow. The warm water thus applied directly against the walls of the rectum provides a more thorough cleansing action than that which is obtained by the enema method. In addition, the method effects a mild peristaltic stimulation of the, rectum, or, in other words, a stimulation of colonic nerves through the reflex of rectal nerves. Although the enema method is unsatisfactory in many cases by itself, an enema action may be obtained by the apparatus according to the invention, if desired, as will be hereinafter apparent.

The present invention is particularly concerned with an applicator for use with the peristaltic method described above. The applicator comprises an outer tube, a manually advanceable straight inner tube within and at least as long as said outer tube, and an exit from the outer tube to be fitted with a discharge hose. The outer tube has a first straight tubular portion at one end thereof to be inserted into the patients rectum, and a second straight tubular portion at the other end to be fitted with a feed hose. The inner tube has a piston-like washer securely fitted around the rearward end thereof which is arranged between the inner tube and the outer tube. continues to flow inwards, sprays against the walls of the 2,826,197 Patented Mar. 71 1, 1958 .to slidably'engage the surface of the feed hose. The other end of the inner tube has a radial nozzle. When the latter enema action can be obtained. When desired, the operator of the apparatus pinches the feed hose slightly behind the piston-like washer, and thus forces the washer and the inner tube forward so that the nozzle portion comes out of the outer tube allowing discharge to begin The fluid rectum, and then immediately discharges outwards through the outer tube,the exit therefrom, and the discharge hose. The invention will be more fully understood by the following detailed description taken with the attached drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is an elevation of an example of the type of equipment with which the applicator is to be used,

Figure '2 is an elevational view of a preferred embodiment of an applicator according to the invention shown partly in section with the inner tube in the retracted position,

Figure 3 is-an enlarged view of the forward end of the applicator of Figure 2 with the inner tube in the advanced position,

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the forward end of the inner tube taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the rearward end of the inner tube taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 2;

In Figure 1, a stand 10 supports a box or container 11 whichcontains a pump (not shown) for feeding the water or other cleansing fluid upward through the tube 12 to the storage tank 13. By virtue of the higher level at which the tank 13 is situated, the water flows downwardly through feed h'ose 14, through the applicator 15 and into thepatient. From the patient the water flows out through applicator 15 and the discharge hose 16 to the discharge tank 17 where it is screened and fed back to the box or container 11 through tube 18, The discharge tank actually forms screening means connected to container 11 by tube 18, and through which fluid from the applicator is directed by hose 16.

The applicator 15 shown in Figure 2 has an outer tube which preferably comprises a first straight tubular portion 19 at one end thereof to be inserted into the patients rectum, a second straight tubular portion 20 fitted to the feed hose 14, a hollow conical portion 21 decreasing in diameter towards the first straight tubular portion and merging therewith, and a further hollow portion 22 merging into and uniting the second tubular portion of same to the hollow conical portion. An exit 23 from the outer tube to which the discharge hose 16 is fitted.

Disposed within the outer tube is an inner tube 24 which is concentric with the first tubular portion 19 and with the second tubular portion 20. The rearward end of the inner tube 24 has a piston-like washer 25 secured thereto. This piston-like washer 25 is of such a size as to slidably engage the inner surface of the feed hose 14. An enlarged portion, preferably a nozzle 26, is fitted to, or formed integral with, the forward end of the inner tube 24. The outer diameter of this nozzle 26 is preferably substantially equal to the inner diameter of the outer tube so that entry to the outer tube is blocked when the inner tube 24 is in the retracted or Figure 2 position. On the other hand, when the inner tube 24 is in the advanced or Figure 3 position, entry to the outer tube is gained as shown by arrows 27.

The feed hose 14 is of flexible material and when pinched just behind the piston-like washer 25, the washer 25 and the inner tube 24 will be advanced from the retracted position of Figure 2 to the advanced position of Figure 3. The nozzle 26 is provided with outlet ports 28 which open radially from the inner tube 24, see Figure 4. The gentle flow of fluid, issuing from the ports 28 and playing against the walls of the rectum are what stimulate the colonic nerves in the rectum. The effect of this stimulation is felt throughout the colonic nerve system and the retarded peristaltic action may be resumed as a result.

In addition to the outlet ports 28, an end orifice 29 may be provided if desired.

It will be understood that With the inner tube 24 in the advanced position and a spray of water playing against the lower intestinal walls through outlet ports 28, the walls besides being cleansed are stimulated to resume normal peristalsis. If, on the other hand, an enema action is desired, the inner tube 24 is maintained in the retracted position so that no discharge is allowed while the water still flows inwardly through the end orifice 29.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In peristaltic therapeutic apparatus, a tank, a container below the tank, a tube connecting the tank and container, pump means at the container for elevating fluid therefrom through the tube to the tank, an applicator for insertion into a patients rectum having a fluid outlet and an inlet adjacent one end thereof, a hose connecting the tank to the opposite end of the applicator, said hose being connected through the applicator to the outlet thereat, screening means connected to the container, and another hose connected to the applicator near said opposite end for directing fluid therefrom through the screening means to the container, said other hose being connected through the applicator to the inlet thereof, and said hose from the tank directing fluid to the applicator outlet and said other hose receiving fluid from the applicator inlet.

2. In peristaltic therapeutic apparatus, a storage tank, a container below the tank, a tube connecting the tank and container, pump means at the container for elevating fluid therefrom through the tube to the tank, an applicator for insertion into a patients rectum having a fluid outlet and an inlet adjacent one end thereof, a hose connecting the tank to the opposite end of the applicator, said hose being connected through the applicator to the outlet thereof, a discharge tank having an outlet communicating with the container, screening means in the discharge tank, and another hose connected to the applicator near said opposite end for directing fluid therefrom to the discharge tank, said other hose being connected through the applicator to the inlet thereof, said fluid passing through the screening means before reaching the container, said hose from the storage tank directing fluid to the applicator outlet and said other hose receiving fluid from the applicator inlet.

3. In peristaltic therapeutic apparatus, a storage tank, a container below the tank, a tube connecting the tank and container, pump means at the container for elevating fluid therefrom through the tube to'the tank, an applicator for insertion into a patients rectum having a fluid outlet and an inlet adjacent one end thereof, a hose connecting the tank to the opposite end of the applicator, said hose being connected through the applicator to the outlet thereof, a discharge tank below the storage tank and above the container, a tube connecting the bottom of the discharge tank to the container, screening means in the discharge tank, and another hose connected to the applicator near said opposite end for directing fluid therefrom to the discharge tank, said other hose being connected through the applicator to the inlet thereof, said fluid passing through the screening means before reaching the container, and said hose from the storage tank directing fluid to the applicator outlet and said other hose receiving fluid from the applicator inlet.

4. In peristaltic therapeutic apparatus, a tank, a container below the tank, a tube connecting the tank and container, pump means at the container for elevating fluid therefrom through the tube to the tank, an elongated applicator for insertion into a patients rectum and having an entrance at one end connected by a passage to an outlet at the other end and an exit at said first end connected by a passage to an inlet at said other end, a hose connected to the tank and to the entrance of the applicator, screening means connected to the container, and an other hose connected to the applicator exit for directing fluid therefrom through the screening means to the container, said hose from the tank directing fluid to the applicator outlet and said other hose receiving fluid from the applicator inlet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,148,541 Dierker Feb. 28, 1939 

